GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay men's basketball team begins their two-game road trip with a battle in Macomb against Western Illinois in a Wednesday showdown slated for tipoff at 7:00 p.m. Head coach Doug Gottlieb continues his quest for his first win as a collegiate head coach after the Phoenix fell to St. Thomas is its home opener, 90-76.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Green Bay (0-2) vs. Western Illinois (1-1)
Wednesday, November 13
7:00 PM CST | Game Notes
Follow the action: Watch (ESPN+) | Listen (Mixlr) | Live Stats
ABOUT THE LEATHERNECKS
Western Illinois is led by second-year head coach Chad Boudreau, who previously served as assistant coach of Milwaukee for 11 seasons, and an assistant at UW-Whitewater for two seasons. Boudreau has been a member of the Leatherneck staff since 2020, and led Western Illinois to its best season since 2012-13, capping off his first season as head coach with a 21-12 record and a 13-5 record in the Ohio Valley Conference, placing fourth.
Sean Smith is the leading scorer for the Leathernecks, averaging 14.5 points, six rebounds, and five assists per game. Transfer Marko Maletic is also averaging 14.4 points, and Western Illinois' leading returning scorer, Ryan Myers, is averaging 12.5 points per game.
The Leathernecks are 1-1 on the young season, taking their season opener on the road at San Jose State, 59-55 before falling to Pepperdine 77-64.
HISTORY VS WESTERN ILLINOIS
This will be the 35th matchup between the Phoenix and the Leathernecks. The last matchup was on Dec. 9, 2023, in GB, with Western Illinois grabbing the 68-59 win. Green Bay holds the all-time advantage 25-9, including victories in each of the previous 14 meetings before last year.
LAST TIME OUT
Green Bay fell to St. Thomas 90-76 in their home opener Friday night at the Kress Center. The Phoenix led 11-8 after an Anthony Roy three when St. Thomas went on an 11-2 run capped off by a Kendall Blue layup giving the Tommies a 22-13 lead that they would never relinquish. St. Thomas led 54-35 at halftime after shooting 20-for-33 from the floor in the half. Green Bay cut the St. Thomas lead to single digits at 76-67 after a C.J. O'Hara layup with just under five minutes left in the game, however, UST outscored the Phoenix 14-9 the rest of the game to win 90-76. Anthony Roy led the Phoenix offense with 24 points. Marcus Hall added 17 points and a team-high 5 rebounds.
ROY RETURNS
After a stint at NAIA Langston University, where he was named an NAIA All-American First Teamer, Anthony Roy Will return to the DI floor this Season. After two games back in Division I, Roy has averaged 25.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. He is also shooting 62.1-percent from the floor and 50.0-percent from three.
HALL'S BREAKOUT
After a Horizon League All-Freshman Team selection a season ago, Phoenix forward Marcus Hall has been outstanding to start the 2024-25 Season. Hall is currently averaging a team-leading 38.5 minutes per game while pouring in 19.0 points per game to go with a team-high 6.0 rebounds per game. Hall is also shooting 50.0-percent from the floor and 33.3-percent from three.
INTERNATIONAL TALENT
The 2024-25 Phoenix roster features players from three foreign countries and eight different U.S. states. Ben Tweedy is from Australia, Roee Oselka is from Israel, and Mouhamadou Cisse is from Senegal.
TOP 10 TURNAROUND
After a program-low 3-29 season in 2022-23, Green Bay bounced back with a resilient 18-14 record a season ago in head coach Sundance Wicks' lone season with the Phoenix, jumping from last in the Horizon League to third. That 15.0 game turnaround is tied for the 10th-best turnaround in NCAA Division I history.
NEW LOOK ROSTER
The Phoenix underwent a roster transformation this past off-season. Of GB's rostered players, five are returners, five are transfers, and eight are incoming freshmen.
FAMILIAR FACES
Multiple returners will play large roles in the upcoming 2024-25 season, including Foster Wonders, Preston Ruedinger, and Marcus Hall. Last season, Ruedinger averaged 8.4, Wonders averaged 7.8, and Hall averaged 6.4 points per game. Mac Wrecke and Ryan Wade are the other two returners and will be featured in Coach Gottlieb's rotation.
OFFSEASON RECAP
A lot happened during the 2024 offseason. Let's get you caught up:
May 12 – Sundance Wicks named Wyoming head men's basketball coach
May 14 - Doug Gottlieb is named the 10th head coach in Green Bay men's basketball history.
June 6 – The rest of the coaching staff is announced, consisting of Aerick Sanders, Damon Archibald, Dennis Harrington, and Kaden LeCapitaine, joining Jordan McCabe.
Over the summer - The Phoenix brings in eight freshmen for the 2024-25 season: Ayden Goll, Jeremiah Johnson, Ben Tweedy, Bennett Basich, C.J. O'Hara, Brady Fitzgerald, Caden Wilkens, and Roee Oselka. Five transfers make their way to Green Bay this season including, Donovan Santoro, Anthony Roy, Muodubem Muoneke, Isaiah Miranda, and Mouhamadou Cisse.
PRESEASON #HLMBB POLL
PL. TEAM (1st PLACE VOTES) – PTS.
T1. Milwaukee (15) – 421
T1. Purdue Fort Wayne (14) – 421
3. Northern Kentucky (4) – 389
4. Oakland (5) – 345
5. Wright State (4) – 315
6. Youngstown State (1) – 272
7. Cleveland State – 252
8. Green Bay – 171
9. Robert Morris – 148
10. IU Indianapolis (1) – 91
11. Detroit Mercy – 79
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